National - A word of advice on "Last Minute Specials"

In the past, I've found the rates offered by the Last Minute Specials to be "unbeatable".

However, as you probably are aware, these specials are announced up to two weeks before the rental date (and sometimes go away during the week of).

I may need to rent a car for 5 days (so a week) starting tonight at BUF. Last weeks list of specials had this location. However, the rate wasn't really that good. Since I may need to rent and figured that the rate wasn't going to be any better, I went ahead and booked (Premium with the $35 off for a week coupon - total of some $230). Last night, I went back on to check and see if it's on the "list" again perhaps at a lower rate. BUF isn't on the list this week. So just for kicks I went to price out the rental and found that the rate with the generic EC code 5007125 with the $35 off a week coupon was considerably lower at about $175 for the same Premium reservation.

I thought that I would pass this experience on.

FYI those rates are always live from Tuesday to Tuesday. I check daily and never have I seen a city or market rate disappear midweek. I almost exclusively use the LMS rates on my rentals too. It depends how the national IT staff is feeling on a given day. Sometimes the LMS rates are taken down on the last day they claim to be valid until, but I've seen them stay up and valid up to 48 hours after the posted expiration date. But as you observed, one week's LMS rate may not be as good as the next week's rate, so I'm always checking up to the day of travel.

I concur with peteropny. Also, the Entertainment contract ID used to give 20% off, but now gives the same rate as the Emerald Aisle contract ID. Only gives 20% off on Premium or higher rentals it seems.

I concur with peteropny. Also, the Entertainment contract ID used to give 20% off, but now gives the same rate as the Emerald Aisle contract ID. Only gives 20% off on Premium or higher rentals it seems.

Just to build on this particular facet of pricing, all contract id's (I'm told) now give no more than 20% off. Last year, we had cases of certain IDs hitting 30% unilaterally (ie. State of CA), and EHI has "streamlined" pricing to reduce overall Contract ID discounts to range between 5%-20%.

Directly in-line with that bit of great (read: terrible) news - is my congratulations to all those posters in our forum (as well as the **iots on disboards, fatwallet, etc) who have bragged and overly-advertised their wonderful fraudulent Contract ID-use. Good job. :td:

Do I read correctly that coupons don't work with Last Minute Specials?


Looking for 4 days in DEN, Sat included - Last minute gives a pretty good deal, but a coupon would make it better.

Coupons stack with LMS.

Coupons stack with LMS.

Thanks. For some reason I am getting "Your coupon cannot be applied to this reservation."... Tried different ones - from Entertainment Book, etc.

Should I use any specific Rate/ Code, Membership, etc?

Thanks. For some reason I am getting "Your coupon cannot be applied to this reservation."... Tried different ones - from Entertainment Book, etc.

Should I use any specific Rate/ Code, Membership, etc?

The location is probably quite busy, coupons are capacity controlled.

The location is probably quite busy, coupons are capacity controlled.

I see. I am a bit new to National couponing :) Got a good rate with LMS anyway, still any decent coupons for DEN for this weekend would be appreciated.

I see. I am a bit new to National couponing :) Got a good rate with LMS anyway, still any decent coupons for DEN for this weekend would be appreciated.

An upgrade coupon usually works in a capacity case.. try that.. you might save a few $$ booking a compact.

Ron.

An upgrade coupon usually works in a capacity case.. try that.. you might save a few $$ booking a compact.

Ron.
Ron,

thanks, was able to get another $30 off the reservation, but had to go to Standard..

Also, I'm not sure what rates are considered LMS and included on "the list" and which are not, but many times IME a location may have very good weekend rates but not be included on "the list". These include rates which are sometimes lower than many locations on the list, sometimes less then $20/day for full size. So while it's worth checking "the list", it's always a good idea to just do a quick re-check of rates before a rental, regardless of "list" status.

I ran into an example of this making a reservation this weekend (2/22). The current LMS list for this week shows four locations for CA: MRY, OAK, SFO & SJC. With rates ranging from $11-$24/day for Midsize. I just made a reservation @ SNA for $17.43/day using the generic EC code, and SNA is not on the list.

Sometimes I've priced rentals the same day I got the LMS email and seen lower rates than the email said to expect. Something like...imagine three airports all equal distance near me: AAA: $15, BBB: $18, CCC: $21 but when I make the reservation for CCC I get the $15 rate, not bad.

I am running into trouble with a LMS in Denver this coming weekend. The rate is on the LMS list but doesn't seem bookable - I keep getting the standard rate.

I am running into trouble with a LMS in Denver this coming weekend. The rate is on the LMS list but doesn't seem bookable - I keep getting the standard rate.

I noticed this as well. It appears there is a glitch in the booking engine. It is auto-filling the contract ID as 6600453, where the correct contract ID is 6600435. For some reason, when you manually correct the contract ID to 6600435, it is not registering at the special rate.

I noticed this as well. It appears there is a glitch in the booking engine. It is auto-filling the contract ID as 6600453, where the correct contract ID is 6600435. For some reason, when you manually correct the contract ID to 6600435, it is not registering at the special rate.

Thanks for the correct code. The phone couldn't book it either - they wanted $68/day vs the advertised $18/day.

I just decided to use my corporate discount which is about $33/day. May just go for Hotwire/Priceline.

Don't hotwire/PL it - you lose access to EA/ES doing it that way.

Surprising that the phone reservations folks won't honor a published rate...

Last minute specials aren't always 'unlimited availability'. Most of the time there is limited capacity.

Ron.